Disassembling device for pallets and the like

ABSTRACT

A device for disassembling pallets, boxes and the like having an elongated frame on one end of which is a handle and at the other end a fixed jaw member in opposing relation to a support for a sliding jaw member. Adjacent the jaw members is a foot member mounted on a shaft that is both slidably and rotatably mounted. Both the sliding jaw member and the foot member are actuated by fluid under pressure, the sliding jaw member sliding toward the fixed jaw member to grip a cross member of a pallet and the foot member sliding upwardly to engage and force the pallet board free of the cross member. Upon release of the fluid under pressure coil springs force the sliding jaw member and the foot member back to their neutral position or non-actuating positions ready to repeat the disassembling operation upon depressing a trigger mounted on one of the handles, the other handle being mounted on the frame to rotate the foot member.

United States Patent ['91 Cramer l l DISASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR PALLETS AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: William H. Cramer, 7178 NW. 6th

Ct., Miami Fla. 33150 [221 Filed: Aug. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 499,766

[52] US. Cl. 29/252 [51] Int. Cl. B23p 19/00 [581 Field of Search 29/239, 252; 254/93 R; 72/705 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,505,964 5/1950 Hincks 29/252 2.682.102 6/1954 Stone et a1 29/252 3.512.242 5/1970 Harvis 29/252 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Harold P. Smith, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmSalvatore G. Militana 1 1 Apr. 8, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A device for disassembling pallets. boxes and the like having an elongated frame on one end of which is a handle and at the other end a fixed jaw member in opposing relation to a support for a sliding jaw member Adjacent the jaw members is a foot member mounted on a shaft that is both slidably and rotatably mounted. Both the sliding jaw member and the foot member are actuated by fluid under pressure, the sliding jaw member sliding toward the fixed jaw member to grip a cross member of a pallet and the foot member sliding upwardly to engage and force the pallet board free of the cross member. Upon release of the fluid under pressure coilsprings force the sliding jaw member and the foot member back to their neutral position or nonactuating positions ready to repeat the disassembling operation upon depressing a trigger mounted on one of the handles, the other handle being mounted on the frame to rotate the foot member.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DISASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR PALLETS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to disassembling device for dismembering pallets, boxes and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art The costs for storing and shipping pallets, boxes. crates and the like when empty are now such that it has been found more economical to ship and store these articles in a knocked down or disassembled condition. At present they are commonly disassembled by hand, namely use of a hammer by an individual. This method is both laborious, time consuming, costly and also results in a great deal of waste due to failure to properly remove the boards, etc., so that they may be reusable.

Attempts have been made to produce a powered device which assists the user in disassembling boxes. These devices are expensive and particularly designed to disassemble boxes of a certain kind and size and are not one that can be used on all boxes, crates and pallets. The present invention avoids these objections to the conventional disassembling devices by providing a simple inexpensive device which permits the separation of two boards that are nailed together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a principle object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be operated easily by a single person for disassembling boxes, crates, pallets and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disassembling device for boxes, pallets and the like operated by fluid under pressure to simultaneously grip one board as a foot portion to force the separation of another board that is nailed to the first board.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disassembling device for boxes, crates. pallets and the like which is simple in construction, inexpensive in cost and which disassembles fastened wood members quickly and properly so as to permit the reuse of the wood material.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device for disassembling boxes, crates, pallets and the like operated by fluid pressure to separate boards fastened together and whose parts return to their normal position upon release of the fluid pressure ready to be moved to another position for separating other fastened boards.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a pallet disassembling device constructed in accordance with my invention and shown in operation for disassembling a pallet.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of my device shown in its non-operating condition.

FIG. 3 is a similar view with parts broken away to show the operating mechanism and with the device in its operating condition.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to my pallet disassembling device consisting of an upright frame -F- having a handle member 11 extending at right angle at the top portion of an elongated body portion 12. At the bottom end of the bottom portion 12 is a fixed jaw member or clamp bar 13 having a serrated portion 14 forming a half of a board clamping member as is explained in detail hereinafter. Extending outwardly of the body 12 of the frame is a support member 16 for the sliding jaw member or clamp bar 15 adjacent the fixed jaw member 14. The lower portion of the support member 16 is slotted as at 17 to receive the jaw members 14 and 15.

At the mid-portion of the elongated body member 12 is a bracket 18 supporting a collar 19 both of which are welded or otherwise secured to the body member 12. Below the bracket 18 is a sleeve 20 in which a shaft or rod 21 is slidably mounted. At the lower end of the shaft 21 is a foot member 22 secured thereto. The upper end of the shaft 21 extends through bores in the bracket 18, collar 19 and into a chamber 23 of a cylinder 24 that is mounted on and secured to the collar 19. A piston 25 secured to the free end of the rod 21 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 24, its movement being influenced by fluid under pressure which enters the chamber 23 at the inlet 26 and a coil spring 27 that extends between the upper end of the cylinder 24 and the piston 25 for returning the foot member 22 to its inoperative or neutral position.

In order to swing the foot member 22, the rod 21 is provided with a collar 28 that is welded thereon and secured to the lower end of a handle member 29 whose upper end 30 extends at right angle to the frame body 12. The handle member 29 is rotatably supported by a bracket 31 that is secured to the frame -F-. It is seen that swinging the handle 30 about the bracket 31 will cause the handle member 29 to swing in an arc and compel the rod 21 to rotate and swing the foot member 22 in an arc of approximately The sliding jaw member 15 which with the fixed jaw member 14 forms the board clamping means is slidably mounted in a slotted portion 31 formed in the sliding jaw support member 16. The jaw member 15 that slides between side walls 32 forming the slot 31 is maintained in the slotted portion 31 by a cap or top wall 33 secured by bolts 34 to the sliding jaw member 15. The jaw 15 is made to slide in the direction of the fixed jaw 13, by means of fluid under pressure which enters the support block 16 at the inlet 35, passes through duct 36 to a cylinder 37 formed in the block 16. A piston 38 which is slidably mounted in the cylinder 37 is secured to the rear surface of the slidable jaw 15 whereby fluid under pressure entering the cylinder 37 will cause the jaw 15 to slide in the direction of the fixed jaw member 13. The return of the jaw member 15 is affected by a coil spring 39 which extends between one end of a pin 40 and the end of a bore 4] in which the pin 40 lies. The other end of the pin 40 is received in a shallow bore 42 that is concentric with the bore 41 and formed in the fixed jaw member 13.

The inlet 35 is connected by a high pressure pipe 43 to a tee junction 44 which in turn is connected by a pipe 45 communicating with the inlet 26 and a second pipe 46 that extends to a source (not shown) of fluid such as oil or air under high pressure. The source of fluid pressure may be a tank of high pressure fluid or a pump capable of delivering to the device 10 fluid under high pressure. A finger operated switch 47 mounted on the lower portion of the handle I1 is connected by a wire 48 that extends to the source of power for actuating same when my pallet disassembling device N) is in operation.

In the normal operating of my device 10 for disassembling pallets, boxes and the like, the operator grasps the handles ll and 30 with the device 10 connected to a source of fluid pressure and electricity as aforementioned, the device 10 being in the non operating condition as shown by FIG. 2. The operator places the jaw members 14 and I astride a cross member 50 of a pallet -P-. With the foot member 22 extending between a pair of the pallet boards Sl, he swings the handle 30 to bring the foot member 22 beneath the pallet board 51 which he intends to separate from the cross member 50 as shown by FIG. 1.

Then the operator depresses the trigger 47 to permit fluid under high pressure to flow through the pipe 46 from whatever source of fluid pressure the device is connected to. The fluid under pressure enters the two fluid chambers 23 and 37 simultaneously. Fluid under pressure entering the chamber 37 will cause the piston 38 to slide outwardly and carry with it the sliding jaw member IS in the direction of the fixed jaw member 13 whereby the jaws l3 and will grip the cross member 50. At the same time fluid under pressure entering the chamber 23 will cause the piston 25 to slide upwardly in the cylinder 24 and carry with it the foot member 22 which engages the lower surface of the pallet board 51 and pulls it upwardly forcing the nails 52 to be pulled out of the cross member 50 and thereby separate the two parts 50 and 5! of the pallet.

As soon as the pallet board 51 has been freed of the cross member 50. the operator releases the trigger 47 to cut off the fluid under pressure from the device 10, the coil spring 27 will cause the piston 25 and the foot member 22 to slide downwardly and the coil spring 39 will cause sliding jaw member 15 to slide in a direction away from the fixed jaw member l3 thereby releasing its grip on the cross member 50 and the foot member 22 being positioned in its downmost position. The operator now swings the handle to bring the foot member 22 back to its original position between the pallet boards 51 in order to permit the device 10 to be removed therefrom. The operator then moves on to the next pallet board 51 that is to be separated from the cross member 50 and repeats the operation of the disassembler It) as described hereinabove until all of the boards 51 have been separated from the cross members 50 of the pallets -P-. My disassembling device 10 may be used to disassemble such articles as boxes, flooring in a house or any other structure wherein members extending in one direction are fastened to cross members and the disassembling of such structures require that the cross member be gripped while a force is applied to the other member in separating one from the other.

What I claim as new is:

l. A device for disassembling pallets and the like comprising an elongated frame having a handle mounted at one end, a fixed jaw member mounted at the other end of said frame, a support member mounted in proximity of said fixed jaw member, a sec- 0nd jaw member slidably mounted on said support member for sliding said second jaw member toward and away from said fixed jaw member, a foot member, a shaft connected to said foot member, support means secured to said elongated frame slidably and rotatably.

mounting said shaft and means operatively connected to said slidable jaw member and said shaft for sliding said slidable jaw member in the direction of said fixed jaw member to grip a cross member of said pallet, and for substantially simultaneously sliding said foot member shaft along said frame to effect the separation of a board engaged by said foot member and said cross member in the disassembling of the pallet.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said operative means for sliding said jaw member comprises a cylindrical bore formed in said support member, a piston slidably mounted in said bore, said piston secured at one end to said slidable jaw member and pipe means for fluid under pressure connected to said bore whereby fluid under pressure entering said bore causes said piston and said slidable jaw to slide in the direction of said fixed jaw member and jaw return means for sliding said slidable jaw member in a direction away from the fixed jaw member upon release of said fluid under pressure from said bore.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said operative means for sliding said foot member shaft along said frame comprises a housing mounted on said support means, a cylindrical bore in said housing, a piston mounted on the free end of said shaft and slidably mounted in said cylindrical bore, pipe means for fluid under pressure connected to said cylindrical bore whereby fluid under pressure entering said cylindrical bore causes said piston and said foot member shaft to slide upwardly along said frame and foot member return means for returning said foot member to its downward position upon release of said fluid under pressure from said cylindrical bore.

4. The structure as recited by claim 3 and handle means rotatably mounted on said frame adjacent said first named handle and means connecting said handle.

and said shaft whereby upon swinging said handle about frame, said foot member is caused to be pivoted.

about said support means.

5. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said jaw return means comprises a further bore formed in said support member, a pin slidably mounted in said further bore and engaging said fixed jaw member and spring means mounted in said further bore and extending between said pin and the end of said further bore yieldingly urging said pin in the direction of said fixed jaw member and said slidable jaw member away from said fixed jaw member.

6. The structure as recited by claim 3 wherein said foot member return means comprises spring means mounted in said cylindrical bore and extending between said piston and the end wall of said housing yielding urging said piston and said foot member downwardly along said frame upon release of said fluid under pressure from said cylindrical bore.

i i t i I 

1. A device for disassembling pallets and the like comprising an elongated frame having a handle mounted at one end, a fixed jaw member mounted at the other end of said frame, a support member mounted in proximity of said fixed jaw member, a second jaw member slidably mounted on said support member for sliding said second jaw member toward and away from said fixed jaw member, a foot member, a shaft connected to said foot member, support means secured to said elongated frame slidably and rotatably mounting said shaft and means operatively connected to said slidable jaw member and said shaft for sliding said slidable jaw member in the direction of said fixed jaw member to grip a cross member of said pallet, and for substantially simultaneously sliding said foot member shaft along said frame to effect the separation of a board engaged by said foot member and said cross member in the disassembling of the pallet.
 2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said operative means for sliding said jaw member comprises a cylindrical bore formed in said support member, a piston slidably mounted in said bore, said piston secured at one end to said slidable jaw member and pipe means for fluid under pressure connected to said bore whereby fluid under pressure entering said bore causes said piston and said slidable jaw to slide in the direction of said fixed jaw member and jaw return means for sliding said slidable jaw member in a direction away from the fixed jaw member upon release of said fluid under pressure from said bore.
 3. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said operative means for sliding said foot member shaft along said frame comprises a housing mounted on said support means, a cylindrical bore in said housing, a piston mounted on the free end of said shaft and slidably mounted in said cylindrical bore, pipe means for fluid under pressure connected to said cylindrical bore whereby fluid under pressure entering said cylindrical bore causes said piston and said foot member shaft to slide upwardly along said frame and foot member return means for returning said foot member to its downward position upon release of said fluid under pressure from said cylindrical bore.
 4. The structure as recited by claim 3 and handle means rotatably mounted on said frame adjacent said first named handle and means connecting said handle and said shaft whereby upon swinging said handle about frame, said foot member is caused to be pivoted about said support means.
 5. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said jaw return means comprises a further bore formed in said support member, a pin slidably mounted in said further bore and engaging said fixed jaw member and spring means mounted in said further bore and extending between said pin and the end of said further bore yieldingly urging said pin in the direction of said fixed jaw member and said slidable jaw member away from said fixed jaw member.
 6. The structure as recited by claim 3 wherein said foot member return means comprises spring means mounted in said cylindrical bore and extending between said piston and the end wall of said housing yielding urging said piston and said foot member downwardly along said frame upon release of said fluid under pressure from said cylindrical bore. 